Can punch



April 1963 w. H. DEXTER ETAL 3,085,326

CAN PUNCH Filed May 22, 1961 W/LBUR hiDEXTER I I HOWARD 4. WILSON,

JNVENTORS.

PATENT AGENZ 3,085,326 CAN PUNCH Wilbur H. Dexter, 421 W. Arbor Vitae, Inglewood, Calif., tntllfHoward A. Wilson, 1517 Yale St., Santa Monica,

Filed May 22, 1961, Ser. No. 111,528 9 Claims. (Cl. 30-6.1)

This invention relates to a can punch and more particularly to a new and improved punch for simultaneously punching a pair of spaced openings in the top of a can having a peripheral bead adjacent to the top, such as a beer can or the like.

This invention provides a new and improved can punch which may be stamped or otherwise formed of relatively rigid sheet metal or the like and comprises a body having a handle and an enlarged head in angular relationship to the handle. The body is provided with a pair of inwardly extending hooks depending from the enlarged head which are engageable with the underside of a peripheral bead of a can for fulcruming the body in response to upward pivotal movement of the handle to direct a pair of spaced parallel punch elements downwardly into the top of the can so as to punch a pair of spaced parallel openings in the top, each opening being adjacent to the peripheral bead of the can. One of the openings is preferably of a relat-ively large size so as to form a convenient pouring or drinking spout whereas the other opening is of relatively small size and provides an air hole to facilitate emptying of the contents of a can.

Although in the past nuemorus can punches have been designed, some capable of punching a pair of spaced holes in the top of a can, it is submitted that the instant invention provides an improved can punch which is more quickly and easily operated to punch the holes, has its punch elements substantially coplanar with the enlarged head of the body so as to be safer to use and store and which may be more easily and readily removably secured to the can for punching thereof.

The can punch of this invention further provides means for hanging the punch as on a hook or the like and convenient opener means for removing bottle caps.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and improved can punch of unitary construction which is adapted to punch a pair of spaced holes in the top of a cylindrical can.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved can punch which is easily and readily removably secured to a can and easily and readily operable to punch a pair of spaced holes in the top of the can in response to upward pivotal movement of the handle thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved can punch which provides fulcruming means engageable with an existing annular bead adjacent to the top of the can for facilitating the securement of the punch to the can and operation thereof.

A general object of this invention is to provide a new and improved can punch of the character described which overcomes disadvantages of prior means and methods heretofore intended to accomplish generally similar puroses. p These and other objects of this invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description, drawings and appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan View, in elevation, of the can punch of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view, in elevation, thereof; and

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view, in elevation, thereof.

Referring in detail to the drawings, there is shown by way of illustration, but not of limitation, a can punch United States Patent designed and constructed in accordance with this invention and generally designated by the numeral 10. The can punch 10 includes a body 11 punched or otherwise formed from a sheet metal material or the like to form a handle 12 having a substantially arcuate cross-section and a relatively flat enlarged head 13 integrally and angularly disposed relative thereto. The head 13- is of substantial width, being adapted to span the top of a conventional can 14- indicated in broken lines in FIGURES 2 and 3 and having a peripheral bead 16 adjacent to its top 17. The head 16 is conventionally formed by a flange formed integrally with the top 17 and sweat soldered or otherwise secured to the edge of the cylindrical wall of the can 14.

Means are provided for fulcruming the head 13 relative to the top of the can 14. The fulcruming means includes a pair of depending, inwardly directed, fulcrum ing hooks 18 and 19' which are secured to or preferably formed integrally with the enlarged head 13. The hooks 18 and 19 are spaced downwardly from the enlarged head 13 and have their inner edges 22 and 23, respectively, laterally spaced so as to diametrically engage the underside 24 of opposite sides of the bead 16 of the can 14 when the enlarged head 13 is juxtaposed to the top 17.

A pair of laterally spaced punch elements 26 and 27 are formed integrally with the enlarged head 13 and are substantially coplanar therewith with the exception that the forward tip or apices 28 and 29 are preferably curved slightly downwardly, as best seen in FIGURES 2 and 3. The punch elements 26 and 27 are substantially triangular in shape and are preferably formed with converging curved side edges 31 and 32 respectively. The elements 26 and 27 terminate at their bases at a substantially straight lateral edge 33 of the enlarged head 13- and are arranged so as to extend outwardly of the head 13 and are substantially parallel to each other and to the longitudinal axis of the handle 12.

In positioning the can punch 10 so that its enlarged head 13 overlies the top 17 of the can with the fulcruming hook members 18 and 19* engaging the underside of the bead 16, the punch elements 26 and 27 are located substantially centrally of the can top 17. It will be noted that the inturned hook portions are not parallel to the radius of the can when juxtaposed thereto, but are preferably slightly angularly disposed. This presents the ends 22 and 23 in more of a point contact with the bead, the cont-act point breaking away from the bead after the holes have been punched. In response to upward pivoting movement of the handle 12 around the fulcrum points of the edges 22 and 23 of the hooks 18 and 19, respectively, the punch elements 26 and 27 are pivoted downwardly to cause the apices 28 and 29 to cut into the top 17 of the cam and the edges 31 and 32 to cut complementary holes in the can diametrically opposed and adjacent to the bead 16.

The curvate cross-section of the handle 12 not only strengthens the handle but adapts the handle for use as a shoe horn if desired. An aperture 36 extends through the handle 12 adjacent to its outer end 37 to facilitate hanging of the can punch 10 as on a hook, nail, or the like, for storing thereof.

An opening 38 is formed in the enlarged head 13 and includes an upwardly directed angular tab 39 adapting the opening 38 to be used as a bottle cap opener.

While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be aiforded the full scope of the claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A can punch for a can having a peripheral bead adjacent to its top, comprising: a body having a handle portion .and an enlarged relativelyrfiat head adapted to span the top of the can; opposed fulcrum means depending from said enlarged head and adapted to engage the underside of said bead of said can for fulcruming .the body; a first punching means adjacent to one edge of said enlarge-d head and substantially coplanar therewith and a second punching means adjacent to an opposite edgeof said enlarged head and substantially coplanar therewith for punching a pair of laterally spaced apertures in the top of a can in response to upward movement of said handle about said fulcrum means, each aperture being adjacent to an opposite edge of said head.

2. A can punch for a cylindrical can having a peripheral bead adjacent to its top, comprising: a body having a handle and a relatively flat, enlarged head in angular relationship to said handle, said head being adapted .to diametrically span the top of the can; a pair of opposed, lateral, fulcruming hook members depending from said enlarged vhead and spaced therefrom and adapted to engage the underside of the peripheral bead for fulcruming the body relative tothe can; and punch means substantially coplanar with said enlarged head and extending outwardly therefrom so as to punch a pair of laterally spaced holes in ,the topof the can in response to upward pivoting movement of said handle about said of said apices is curved relative .to its respective punch element.

elements having theiraltitudes substantially perpendicular to said straight lateral edge of said enlarged head and their bases on a line coincident with said straight edge.

8. A can punch for a cylindrical can having a peripheral bead adjacent to its top, comprising:

a body having a handle and a relatively-flat, enlarged head contiguous with said handle, said head being adapted to diametrically span the top of the can;

a pair ofopposed, lateral, fulcruming hook members depending from said enlarged head and spaced therefrom and adapted to engage the underside of the peripheral bead for fulcruming the body relative to References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,686,964 Manthey Aug. 24, 1954 

1. A CAN PUNCH FOR A CAN HAVING A PERIPHERAL BEAD ADJACENT TO ITS TOP, COMPRISING: A BODY HAVING A HANDLE PORTION AND AN ENLARGED RELATIVELY-FLAT HEAD ADAPTED TO SPAN THE TOP OF THE CAN; OPPOSED FULCRUM MEANS DEPENDING FROM SAID ENLARGED HEAD AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID BEAD OF SAID CAN FOR FULCRUMING THE BODY; A FIRST PUNCHING MEANS ADJACENT TO ONE EDGE OF SAID ENLARGED HEAD AND SUBSTANTIALLY COPLANAR THEREWITH AND A SECOND PUNCHING MEANS ADJACENT TO AN OPPOSITE EDGE OF SAID ENLARGED HEAD AND SUBSTANTIALLY COPLANAR THEREWITH FOR PUNCHING A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED APERTURES IN THE TOP OF A CAN IN RESPONSE TO UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID HANDLE ABOUT SAID FULCRUM MEANS, EACH APERTURE BEING ADJACENT TO AN OPPOSITE EDGE OF SAID BEAD. 